Eat-LA

WHY Nostalgic charm for natives, and decent coffee-shop fare at 3 a.m. WHAT L.A.’s original Du-par’s still has the red Naugahyde booths but is brighter and prettier after an overhaul a few years back. Seen-it-all waitresses in gingham-trimmed uniforms and tiny white caps deliver huge (if overcooked) omelets, good (if not as good as in […]

Do you love the Santa Monica Farmers Market? How about food trucks? Free bike valet? Gospel music? The Santa Monica Festival, now in its twenty-third year, has it all. Head to the festival on your bike – in addition to the free valet parking, there will be a Family Bike Hub complete with safety clinics and […]

WHY For the farm-fresh ingredients that shine with just the right amount of chef behind them. The beloved family-style Sunday Supper brings gorgeous home-style cooking for $45 per person. WHAT Relaxed and beautiful, homey yet elegant, with just-attentive-enough service that’s never pretentious, Lucques is the reigning Chez Panisse of Los Angeles. It’s one of the […]

WHY AOC has an NYC bistro feel with excellent wines by the glass and perfectly ripe cheeses—and staff members who know more than just their name. The Cal-Mediterranean food is always reliable, if a smidge less so than at sister restaurant Lucques. WHAT Anything vegetable (or animal, for that matter) is coddled by the cooks […]

WHY To channel Danny DeVito in Get Shorty. WHAT There’s a white picket fence to keep the looky-loos out and the celebrities in, and the remarkable thing is how well it works. Movie and music stars really do come here, as do the agents, managers and publicists who feed off of them, and they’re all […]

WHY Who knew Brentwood could be this happening? WHAT This upscale, always-packed, almost manic place is very Lost in Translation—lots of neon, purple and white leather, all of it created by famed French designer Philippe Starck. The menu, from sushi chef Katsuya Uechi, includes a variety of hot and cold items, including scallops with kiwi […]

WHY Authentic Cuban café con leche, heavenly mochas, lattes infused with horchata and all-around superb coffee. WHAT This suave and handsome spot, with comfy leather chairs and intoxicating aromas, takes its coffee—and its beans—very seriously, buying them from organic, artisanal roasters and handling them with care. But there’s a sense of whimsy that cancels out […]

WHY High-quality fresh fish, Italian style; try the crudos, the squid-ink pasta with sea urchin and the salt-baked sea bass. The three-course business lunch is a good value. WHAT Sal Marino grew up in the restaurant business (at Marino’s), and now, in his own modern, elegant place, he’s exploring his own culinary passions: ultra-fresh seafood […]

WHY For the deeply romantic atmosphere and lovely patio, and the we’re-so-cool L.A. scene. WHAT The food’s not the point at this sign-less hidden restaurant, although it’s just fine. It’s all about the décor, the atmosphere, the patio and the scene, all of which are memorable. Service meanders, but there’s good wine to drink, so […]